Join our dynamic team

We appreciate your interest in the festival as a potential employer. The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is committed to building an inclusive work environment that is as stimulating, inspiring, and diverse as the many artists and programs we present.  

We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

PRODUCTION INTERN
The festival seeks motivated, enthusiastic candidates for production internships. These are year-round, unpaid opportunities that allow candidates to get practical, hands-on knowledge in arts and entertainment and the production world. Hours are flexible and adaptable.

Internships are shaped to work with the mutual benefits of matching the festival’s needs with the candidate’s areas of interest. Select candidates can apply internship work towards select accredited college programs (as available). A successful candidate will be responsible for numerous production activities and participate in the dynamic environment of festival production.

Candidates should have an interest in event production, the arts and nonprofit organizations. Candidates must have exceptional communication skills and be able to work independently as well as with a team. Positive, productive and self-motivated individuals will fit successfully within our team.

Please submit cover letter with resume, weekly hours available, ideal areas of focus, and internship duration sought to Amy Nesbitt at arnesbit@umich.edu.

Candidates are asked not to request submission status updates.

Resumes are kept on file for future consideration.

If your qualifications match current openings, you will be contacted directly. Thank you.

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, height, weight, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, or disability as defined by law.

Help us grow and thrive

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is one of Ann Arbor’s greatest treasures, brought to you by the generosity of the entire community. We owe our continuing success to the many individuals, businesses, and partner organizations that support our mission.

As an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the average cost of producing the Ann Arbor Summer Festival each year is $1.2 million. Earned revenue from ticket and beverage sales covers only 65% of total expense; support from corporate sponsors, foundations, government agencies, and individual donors makes up the balance.

Whether you have donated before, volunteered your time, attended an indoor performance, or enjoyed Top of the Park, you are part of the engine that keeps the festival going. So in the spirit of community that we hold at the center of our mission, we urge you to consider making a contribution to the festival to help us maintain the highest quality programs and preserve this vibrant celebration for future generations.

To make learn more about individual and corporate giving, estate planning, endowment, donor recognition, and partnership opportunities, please click here.


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The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is the recipient of the Guidestar Exchange Seal satisfying all the transparency and validation criteria from Guidestar, the online standard for nonprofit accountability.  Click here to review our profile with IRS 990s, audit reports, and evaluations of key programs.

Perform at Top of the Park

Thank you for your interest in performing at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, which runs June 17-July 10, 2011.

The festival’s curatorial period occurs from fall through spring. Please see the information below outlining performance opportunities, application process, and selection criteria for the various stages and programs.

MAINSTAGE: Hill Auditorium, Power Center, Mendelssohn Theatre
Artists considered for our ticketed indoor season must be solicited by our programming staff or be represented by a national agent. If an artist is of interest to the festival for this series, the staff will contact that artist’s representatives directly.

TOP OF THE PARK: Rackham, The Grove, Grassrootz Stages and Street Performers
Top of the Park programming is broadly accessible to the general public, and highlights a wide range of local, regional, and national talent. The festival receives hundreds of applications annually from performers who are interested in appearing at Top of the Park. Each year, both new and returning artists are selected to play the admission-free outdoor event, which averages an attendance of 2,000 per night. Submissions are evaluated based on type of performance, content, quality, diversity, and potential audience appeal. Multi-year submissions are not criteria for inclusion. A curatorial matrix that changes every year guides programming.

Band, DJ, and performing artist submissions are accepted September 1st - February 1st for each upcoming festival season. Artists can submit materials during this timeframe using either of the electronic submission methods listed below only.

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly as well as manage the hundreds of submissions received, the festival will no longer accept any physical (mailed or delivered) press kits, CDs, DVDs, photos, or letters. Physical press kits are not acceptable forms of submission and will not be considered. If these materials are sent, the festival does not return materials as a matter of policy.

All applicants will be notified of their status by or before June 1st. Please do not call or email the office to check on the status of your applications.

To Apply

Artist submissions are accepted September 1st - February 1st for each season.

Interested performers for Rackham Stage, Grove Stage, Grassrootz Stage, and Street Performers have two methods of application (indicating which stage they are applying for):

1.  Our preferred method of application is through our online music submission partner Sonicbids, which offers an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional press kits and full EPK options for artists. Sonicbids applications should be submitted each season for each year's festival application process (each year is different).

Please note: **Choice consideration is given to artists who fully fill out the annual application and submit via Sonicbids, not simply forwarding a page link.

   Click here for Sonicbids

2. Electronically submit a complete electronic press kit (EPK) via email which MUST include: band/performer audio clips, web links, contact name, phone number, booking email addresses, physical mailing address, video/youtube links (if available), press info, high resolution images (above 300 dpi), tech riders, current tour dates, and other information on band availability during the dates of the festival. Please send the EPK with all of the above and any other helpful booking details to: arnesbit@umich.edu

Stage Details

TOP OF THE PARK: Rackham Stage
All genres are accepted including; Acoustic, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Americana, Avant-garde, Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Children's Music, Classic Rock, Comedy, Contemporary Classical, Country, Cover Band, Electronic/Dance/DJ, Folk, Funk, Gospel, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jam Band, Jazz, Latin, Novelty/Variety, Pop, R&B, Reggae, Rock, Ska, Singer/Songwriter, Soul, Standards, Zydeco and World.

Full sound, stage, lights, tech staff, merch sellers, and festival promotion are provided for band performance sets ranging from 30-120 minutes. Bands on this admission-free stage are paid a modest flat fee.

Please note: Although we consider Top of the Park submissions from national artists who have routing through our area, we are primarily looking to book talent from Southeast Michigan. Booking agents or managers can email (no calls, please) their national avails with complete EPKs to: arnesbit@umich.edu

TOP OF THE PARK: The Grove Stage

The festival seeks both acoustic performers (solo to quartet) and DJs (using digital format) for The Grove Stage in the beverage garden. This 21+ area of the admission-free event is a more intimate space for 200+ featuring select performers in a shaded, sociable setting.

Genres of interest for this stage include; Acoustic, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Americana, Avant-garde, Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Classic Rock, Comedy, Contemporary Classical, Country, Cover Band, Electronic/Dance/DJ, Folk, Funk, Gospel, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jam Band, Jazz, Latin, Novelty/Variety, Pop, R&B, Reggae, Rock, Ska, Singer/Songwriter, Soul, Standards, Zydeco and World.

Artists on this stage are paid a modest honorarium. Basic technical production is provided. Performers are expected to self-promote their own shows.

TOP OF THE PARK: Grassrootz Teen Stage

The festival presents an emerging artist stage specifically designed to showcase fresh talent. Programmed for young adults, this modest, unplugged space features an eclectic mix of homegrown artists showcasing music, dance, comedy, and spoken word in a teen-friendly environment at Top of the Park.  Submissions are evaluated based on type of performance, content, quality, diversity, and potential audience appeal.

To be eligible to play the Grassrootz Stage, artists need to:
* Perform an appealing set to a wide variety of patrons

* Play a family friendly (PG-rated) set that is unplugged/acoustic
* Adhere to scheduled set lengths and arrive on time, ready to play

* Be 100% self-sufficient -- only minimal tech support is provided

* Self-promote their own shows

* All band members must be under 21 years old, as this is a teen stage

Minimal tech support is provided including: stage coordinator, power strips, mic stands and drum rug. Artists must take care of whatever additional items they need to perform.

Please note that this is a promotional opportunity and artists are not compensated for their performance on this stage.

TOP OF THE PARK: Roaming Street Performers

The festival accepts submissions from strolling and street performers such as: stilt walkers, jugglers, acrobats, sidewalk chalk artists, unicyclists, clowns, face painters, go-go dancers, hula hoopers, costumed strolling characters, contortionists, tumblers, magicians, balloon artists, storytellers, one-man bands, solo un-amplified musicians, and more. Some restrictions apply, including: no fire or pyrotechnics, no "busking" within one block of event footprint, and all performances must be family appropriate (PG-rated).

Select performers are paid a modest honorarium for their participation and are expected to self-promote their own shows.

All applicants will be notified of their status directly by someone on the festival staff. Please do not call or email the office to check on the status of your applications.

Throw a party at Top of the Park

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival offers exciting hospitality opportunities for your next special event. From employee appreciation nights and business celebrations to anniversaries, wedding receptions, birthday parties and class reunions, Top of the Park offers an ideal venue to throw your party.  Special event locations include two private party tents and the wooded space, known as The Grove.  

We look forward to working with you to create a spectacular and memorable occasion.

Tent reservations are accepted beginning in March each year. Please call (734) 994-5999 to confirm availability, as dates fill up quickly.

Let's get social

What's your festival experience? Get social and share it online.

Why not join our Facebook group and post a comment on our wall, check out artist YouTube videos, follow festival tweets, or share your thoughts on our MySpace page.

Be a part of the festival's online community at these popular social media sites:

Tell us what you think!

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is committed to serving our community. By answering these survey questions, you can help us understand who our audience is and how we can best meet your needs.

Please take a moment to complete this brief survey. Thank you.